Personalized interactive voice response system

ABSTRACT

An interactive voice response process that permits an intelligent interactive voice system to communicate with a caller includes receiving a call and connecting the caller with the system. The process also includes identifying the caller, determining if the caller is a first time caller or a repeat caller, and interactively communicating with the caller in accordance with an interactive script. For each first time caller, the process establishes a personal profile of the caller from information gathered from the caller. The process then develops a predictive personalized interactive communication dialog for future calls from the caller based on information gathered from the caller during the interactive communication and stored in the caller&#39;s personal profile.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to a personalizedinteractive voice response method that establishes a personal profile ofa caller from information gathered from the caller during an interactivecommunication with the caller, and develops a predictive personalizedinteractive communication dialog for future calls from the caller.

2. Background Information

Traditionally, interactive voice response (IVR) systems present a callerwith many options from which to choose in order to determine to whichdestination to route the caller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary general computer system;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary personalized interactivevoice reponse process, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a network including an IVR system and a controller; and

FIG. 4 shows a computer system including the IVR system components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure, through one or more ofits various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features orsub-components, is thus intended to bring out one or more of theadvantages as specifically noted below.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an interactivevoice response method permits an intelligent interactive voice system tocommunicate with a caller. The method begins by receiving a call andconnecting the caller with the intelligent interactive voice system. Themethod then identifies the caller from identification informationassociated with the caller and determines if the caller is a first timecaller or a repeat caller. Based upon interactively communicating withthe caller in accordance with an interactive script, the method routesthe caller to a destination based upon caller information gathered fromthe caller during the interactive communication with the caller. Themethod then establishes a personal profile of the caller in theintelligent interactive voice system if the caller is a first timecaller, the personal profile including information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communication with the caller. Finally,the method develops a predictive personalized interactive communicationdialog for future calls from the caller, based upon the informationgathered from the caller during the interactive communication with thecaller and stored in the caller's personal profile.

In another embodiment, the personal profile of the caller in theintelligent interactive voice system is updated if the caller is arepeat caller, the updating including information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communication with the caller.

In a further embodiment, the personal profile of the caller is stored ina caller database and includes the caller's name, at least one phonenumber, and other information gathered from the caller duringinteractive communications with the caller.

In an embodiment, the predictive personalized interactive communicationsdialog with the caller begins with the intelligent interactive voicesystem addressing the caller by the caller's name as determined withreference to the personal profile of the caller.

In another embodiment, the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog with the caller is based upon intelligentlypredicting the most probable purpose of the call by analyzing a historyof information previously gathered from the caller during previouscalls.

In a further embodiment, the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog with the caller is based upon the history ofinformation previously gathered from the caller during a selectablenumber of previous calls, the selectable number being variablydetermined by the intelligent interactive voice system based uponinformation included in the profile of the caller.

In an embodiment, the predictive personalized interactive communicationdialog with the caller is based upon the history of informationpreviously gathered from the caller during a selectable time frame ofprevious calls, the selectable time frame being variably determined bythe intelligent interactive voice system based upon information includedin the profile of the caller.

In another embodiment, the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog with the caller continues to develop a more complexstructure over time as multiple paths containing various pluralities ofpredetermined questions are developed and stored in a caller's profile.

In a further embodiment, the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog with the caller is based upon predicting that thecaller is calling about a specific business account.

In an embodiment, the predictive personalized interactive communicationdialog with the caller is based upon predicting that the caller iscalling about a specific issue regarding the specific business account.

In another embodiment, the personal profile of the caller may beself-customized by the caller to include personal preferences set by thecaller that affects the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog.

In a further embodiment, the personal profile of the caller may beself-customized by the caller to include special security code words toidentify one or more account numbers of the caller.

In an embodiment, the personal profile of the caller may beself-customized by the caller to include special short-cut code words toexpedite routing of the caller to one or more desired destinations.

In another embodiment, the personal profile of the caller may beself-customized by the caller to include personal preferences set by thecaller that affects the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog, the personal preferences set by the caller beingcharacterized as persistent parameters that do not change unlesspersonally changed by the caller.

In a further embodiment, a computer readable medium stores a computerprogram that permits an intelligent interactive voice system tocommunicate with a caller. The medium includes a connecting segment thatreceives a call and connects a caller with the intelligent interactivevoice system, and an indentifying segment that identifies the callerfrom identification information associated with the caller. The mediumalso includes a determining segment that determines if the caller is afirst time caller or a repeat caller, a communicating segment thatinteractively communicates with the caller in accordance with aninteractive script, and a routing segment that routs a caller to adestination based upon caller information gathered from the callerduring the interactive communication with the caller. The medium furtherincludes an establishing segment that establishes a personal profile ofthe caller in the intelligent interactive voice system if the caller isa first time caller, the personal profile including information gatheredfrom the caller during the interactive communication with the caller,and a developing segment that develops a predictive personalizedinteractive communication dialog for future calls from the caller, basedupon the information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller and stored in the caller's personalprofile.

In an embodiment, a computer system executes a computer program thatpermits an intelligent interactive voice system to communicate with acaller. The system includes a receiver that receives a call and connectsa caller with the intelligent interactive voice system, and anidentifier that identifies the caller from identification informationassociated with the caller. The system also includes a determiner thatdetermines if the caller is a first time caller or a repeat caller, acommunicator that communicates with the caller in accordance with aninteractive script, and a router that routes a caller to a destinationbased upon caller information gathered from the caller during theinteractive communication with the caller. The system further includesan establisher that establishes a personal profile of the caller in amemory of the intelligent interactive voice system if the caller is afirst time caller, the personal profile including information gatheredfrom the caller during the interactive communication with the caller,and a developer that develops a predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog for future calls from the caller, based upon theinformation gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller and stored in the caller's personalprofile.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system, onwhich an interactive voice response method that permits an intelligentvoice system to communicate with a caller can be implemented, which isshown and is designated 100. The computer system 100 can include a setof instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system 100 toperform any one or more of the methods or computer based functionsdisclosed herein. The computer system 100 may operate as a standalonedevice or may be connected, for example, using a network 101, to othercomputer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 100 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a global positioning satellite(GPS) device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer,a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 100 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 may include aprocessor 110, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 100 caninclude a main memory 120 and a static memory 130 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 108. As shown, the computer system 100 mayfurther include a video display unit 150, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 100 may include an input device 160,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 170, such as a mouse.The computer system 100 can also include a disk drive unit 180, a signalgeneration device 190, such as a speaker or remote control, and anetwork interface device 140.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the disk drive unit180 may include a computer-readable medium 182 in which one or more setsof instructions 184, e.g. software, can be embedded. A computer-readablemedium 182 is a tangible article of manufacture, from which sets ofinstructions 184 can be read. Further, the instructions 184 may embodyone or more of the methods or logic as described herein. In a particularembodiment, the instructions 184 may reside completely, or at leastpartially, within the main memory 120, the static memory 130, and/orwithin the processor 110 during execution by the computer system 100.The main memory 120 and the processor 110 also may includecomputer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium 182 thatincludes instructions 184 or receives and executes instructions 184responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 101 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 101.Further, the instructions 184 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 101 via the network interface device 140.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary personalized interactivevoice response process, according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure. In the flowchart, the method starts when the intelligentinteractive voice system receives a call 201 and is connected with thecaller. The caller is then identified 202 from the identificationinformation associated with the caller. At this time, a determination203 is made whether the caller is a first time caller or a repeatcaller. If the caller is a first time caller, then the intelligentinteractive voice system interactively communicates with the caller 204.Based upon caller information gathered from the caller during theinteractive communication, the caller is routed to an appropriatedestination 205. Then, the intelligent interactive voice systemestablishes a personal profile 206 of the caller in the system thatincludes information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication. Based upon the caller's personal profile developed frominformation gathered from the caller, a predictive personalizedinteractive communication dialog is developed 207 and stored for useduring future calls with the caller, which ends 214 this portion of theprocess.

Alternatively, if the caller is not a first time caller, but a repeatcaller, then the caller's stored personal profile is accessed 208. Atthis point, the system begins the caller's developed predictivepersonalized interactive communication dialog 209, and interactivelycommunicates with the caller 210. This personalized and interactiveprocess results in a more pleasant and efficient routing of the callerto the desired destination 211. The repeat caller's profile is thenupdated 211 based upon the most recent call. The repeat caller'spredictive personalized interactive communications dialog is alsoupdated 213, which concludes this portion of the process 214.

In the intelligent interactive voice system, a caller's personal profileis stored in a caller database and includes the caller's name and phonenumber. The system may include multiple phone numbers for the caller,such as an office phone number, a home phone number, an office cellphone number, and a personal cell phone number. The system may alsostore other information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunications, such as the caller's address, account numbers, andpersonal preferences. The system may also begin the personalizedinteractive communications dialog by addressing the caller by their nameas determined with reference to the caller's personal profile. The nameused may be the formal name of the caller, or an informal name such as anickname.

The predictive personalized interactive communication dialog with thecaller is based upon intelligently predicting the most probable purposeof the call, by analyzing a history of information previously gatheredfrom the caller during previous calls. The history of information usedmay include all calls, or be limited to a selectable number of previouscalls. The selectable number of previous calls may be variablydetermined by the intelligent interactive voice system based uponinformation included in the profile of the caller. Alternatively, thehistory of information used may be limited to the information previouslygathered from the caller during a selectable time frame of previouscalls, with the selectable time frame being variably determined by theintelligent interactive voice system based upon information included inthe profile of the caller.

Over time, as more calls are received from a caller, the predictivepersonalized interactive communication dialog with the caller continuesto develop a more complex structure as multiple paths containing variouspredetermined questions are developed and stored in the caller'sprofile. The predictive personalized interactive communication dialogwith the caller may be based on predicting that the caller is callingabout a specific business account, or a specific issue regarding aspecific business account.

Another feature of the system is that the personal profile of the callermay be self-customized by the caller to include personal preferences setby the caller that affects the predictive personalized interactivecommunications dialog. For instance, the caller may self-customize thecaller's personal profile to include special security code words toidentify one or more account numbers of the caller, or to includespecial short-cut words to expedite the routing of the caller to one ormore desired destinations. Further, the caller may set certain personalpreferences as persistent parameters that do not change unless thecaller personally changes them. The special security code words, specialshort-cuts, and personal preferences are saved in the caller's personalprofile.

FIG. 3 shows a network including an IVR system and a controller. Thenetwork 300 illustrates that a caller 301 communicates through acommunications network 302. The caller 301 is connected to the IVRsystem 303, which interacts with the controller 304. The variousfunctions of the intelligent interactive voice system may be performedby the IVR system 303, by the controller 304, or by a combination of theIVR system 303 and the controller 304 working together. Additionally,the caller may communicate using any one of many types of callingdevices and communications networks 302. These devices may include aland-line telephone, a wireless phone, a personal digital assistant,Voice over Internet Protocol, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a computer system including the IVR system components. Thecomputer system 400 includes a controller 402 that interacts with theIVR system 401 in performing the various functions of the intelligentinteractive voice system. The computer system 400 includes a receiver410 that receives a call from a caller and connects the caller with theIVR system 401. The IVR system 401 includes an identifier 403 thatidentifies the caller from identification information associated withthe caller. The determiner 404 determines if the caller is a first timecaller or a repeat caller. The communicator 405 communicates with thecaller via the receiver 410 and transmitter 411 in accordance with aninteractive script with the caller. Based upon caller information thatis gathered from the caller during the interactive communications withthe caller, the router 406 routes the caller to a specific destination.

If the caller is a first time caller, the establisher 407 establishes apersonal profile of the caller in the memory 409 of the intelligentinteractive voice system. The established personal profile of the callerincludes information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller. Based upon the information gathered fromthe caller during the interactive communication with the caller andstored in the caller's personal profile, the developer 408 develops apredictive personalized interactive communication dialog to be used induring future calls with the caller.

When the determiner 404 determines that the caller is a repeat caller,the personal profile of the caller is updated with information gatheredfrom the caller during the interactive communication with the caller.

When the establisher 407 establishes the personal profile of a firsttime caller in the memory 409, the personal profile of the caller isstored in a caller database. The caller's personal profile that isstored in the caller database includes information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communications with the caller, includingat least the caller's name and one phone number.

Although the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have beenused are words of description and illustration, rather than words oflimitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appendedclaims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventionhas been described with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed; rather the invention extends to all functionallyequivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope ofthe appended claims.

For example, the interactive voice response method may be implementedusing various forms of communication including telephone land lines,cell phones, voice over Internet protocol, and video calls.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include anycomputer-readable medium or other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited tosuch standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet andother packed switched network transmission (e.g., VoIP, VoiceXML, SALT,SRGS, SISR, SSML, PLS, CCXML) represent examples of the state of theart. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or moreefficient equivalents having essentially the same functions.Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same orsimilar functions are considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

1. An interactive voice response method that permits an intelligentinteractive voice system to communicate with a caller, comprising:receiving a call and connecting a caller with the intelligentinteractive voice system; identifying the caller; determining if thecaller is a first time caller or a repeat caller; interactivelycommunicating with the caller in accordance with an interactive script;routing the caller to a destination based upon caller informationgathered from the caller during the interactive communication with thecaller; establishing a personal profile of the caller in the intelligentinteractive voice system if the caller is a first time caller, thepersonal profile including information gathered from the caller duringthe interactive communication with the caller; and developing apredictive personalized interactive communication dialog for futurecalls from the caller, based upon the information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communication with the caller and storedin the caller's personal profile.
 2. An interactive voice responsemethod as described in claim 1, further comprising: updating thepersonal profile of the caller in the intelligent interactive voicesystem if the caller is a repeat caller, the updated personal profileincluding information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller.
 3. An interactive voice response methodas described in claim 2, wherein the personal profile of the caller isstored in a caller database and includes information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communications with the caller, includingat least the caller's name and one phone number.
 4. An interactive voiceresponse method as described in claim 3, wherein the predictivepersonalized interactive communications dialog with the caller beginswith the intelligent interactive voice system addressing the caller bytheir name as determined with reference to the personal profile of thecaller.
 5. An interactive voice response method as described in claim 4,wherein the predictive personalized interactive communication dialogwith the caller is based upon intelligently predicting the most probablepurpose of the call by analyzing a history of information previouslygathered from the caller during previous calls.
 6. An interactive voiceresponse method as described in claim 5, wherein the predictivepersonalized interactive communication dialog with the caller is basedupon the history of information previously gathered from the callerduring a selectable number of previous calls, the selectable numberbeing variably determined by the intelligent interactive voice systembased upon information included in the profile of the caller.
 7. Aninteractive voice response method as described in claim 5, wherein thepredictive personalized interactive communication dialog with the calleris based upon the history of information previously gathered from thecaller during a selectable time frame of previous calls, the selectabletime frame being variably determined by the intelligent interactivevoice system based upon information included in the profile of thecaller.
 8. An interactive voice response method as described in claim 5,wherein the predictive personalized interactive communication dialogwith the caller continues to develop a more complex structure over timeas multiple paths containing various pluralities of predeterminedquestions are developed and stored in a caller's profile
 9. Aninteractive voice response method as described in claim 8, wherein thepredictive personalized interactive communication dialog with the calleris based upon predicting that the caller is calling about a specificbusiness account.
 10. An interactive voice response method as describedin claim 9, wherein the predictive personalized interactivecommunication dialog with the caller is based upon predicting that thecaller is calling about a specific issue regarding the specific businessaccount.
 11. An interactive voice response method as described in claim3, wherein the personal profile of the caller may be self-customized bythe caller to include personal preferences set by the caller thataffects the predictive personalized interactive communication dialog.12. An interactive voice response method as described in claim 11,wherein the personal profile of the caller may be self-customized by thecaller to include special security code words to identify one or moreaccount numbers of the caller.
 13. An interactive voice response methodas described in claim 11, wherein the personal profile of the caller maybe self-customized by the caller to include special short-cut code wordsto expedite routing of the caller to a desired destination.
 14. Aninteractive voice response method as described in claim 6, wherein thepersonal profile of the caller may be self-customized by the caller toinclude personal preferences set by the caller that affects thepredictive personalized interactive communication dialog, the personalpreferences set by the caller being characterized as persistentparameters that do not change unless personally changed by the caller.15. An interactive voice response method as described in claim 7,wherein the personal profile of the caller may be self-customized by thecaller to include personal preferences set by the caller that affect thepredictive personalized interactive communication dialog, the personalpreferences set by the caller being characterized as persistentparameters that do not change unless personally changed by the caller.16. A tangible computer readable medium for storing an executablecomputer program that permits an intelligent interactive voice system tocommunicate with a caller, comprising: a connecting segment thatreceives a call and connects a caller with the intelligent interactivevoice system; an indentifying segment that identifies the caller; adetermining segment that determines if the caller is a first time calleror a repeat caller; a communicating segment that interactivelycommunicates with the caller in accordance with an interactive script; arouting segment that routs a caller to a destination based upon callerinformation gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller; an establishing segment that establishesa personal profile of the caller in the intelligent interactive voicesystem if the caller is a first time caller, the personal profileincluding information gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller; and a developing segment that develops apredictive personalized interactive communication dialog for futurecalls from the caller, based upon the information gathered from thecaller during the interactive communication with the caller and storedin the caller's personal profile.
 17. A computer system that executes acomputer program that permits an intelligent interactive voice system tocommunicate with a caller, comprising: a receiver that receives a calland connects a caller with the intelligent interactive voice system; anidentifier that identifies the caller from identification informationassociated with the caller; a determiner that determines if the calleris a first time caller or a repeat caller; a communicator thatcommunicates with the caller in accordance with an interactive script; arouter that routes a caller to a destination based upon callerinformation gathered from the caller during the interactivecommunication with the caller; an establisher that establishes apersonal profile of the caller in a memory of the intelligentinteractive voice system if the caller is a first time caller, thepersonal profile including information gathered from the caller duringthe interactive communication with the caller; and a developer thatdevelops a predictive personalized interactive communication dialog forfuture calls from the caller, based upon the information gathered fromthe caller during the interactive communication with the caller andstored in the caller's personal profile.
 18. A computer system asdescribed in claim 17, wherein the personal profile of the caller in theintelligent interactive voice system is updated if the caller is arepeat caller, the updated personal profile gathered from the callerduring the interactive communication with the caller.
 19. A computersystem as described in claim 18, wherein the personal profile of thecaller is stored in a caller database and includes information gatheredfrom the caller during the interactive communications with the caller,including at least the caller's name and one phone number.
 20. Acomputer system as described in claim 19, wherein the personal profileof the caller may be self-customized by the caller to include personalpreferences set by the caller that affect the predictive personalizedinteractive communication dialog.